760

on the wall / ceiling / door

the pictures on the wall / a fly on the ceiling / You’ll see his name on the door. on somebody’s body / finger / dress etc

the diamond ring on her finger / torture that left no mark on his body / There’s lipstick on your collar.

on top of

on the highest part of something:

I found this card on top of the cupboard. / the silver star on top of the Christmas tree

one on top of the other (in a pile)

You’ll have to stack the boxes one on top of the other. onto (preposition)

moving to a position on the surface of something:

Nancy walked onto the stage and took the microphone in her hand.

But: after put, throw, drop, land, fall it is more natural to use on:

Put the books back on the shelf (not “onto the shelf”). over (preposition)

on something and covering it:

There was a white sheet over the victim’s body. / She wore a coat over the sweater.

put / lay / throw something over something

She put a blanket over the child’s legs to keep him warm. all over (on all parts of something)

Look, there are pieces of paper all over the floor.

9. NEXT TO next to

closest to the side of another person, room or building – use this especially when there are several people, rooms, buildings etc in a line:

I was sitting next to Mr Gregory. / Next to the church was a park. right next to (next to and very close)

I was standing right next to him, but I still couldn’t hear what he was saying. beside (preposition)

close to the side of something or someone:

Leave the medicine on the table beside her bed. / She came and sat down beside me. / Harriet was walking beside the river with her dog.

31

by (preposition)

beside something:

I’ll meet you by the entrance. / Relatives are waiting by the phone for more news of the crash. / a hotel by the sea

along (preposition)

continuing or moving close to the side of a river, coast, border etc: the path along the shore / Walk along the canal as far as the bridge. all along (from one end to the other)

There were thousands of tanks and guns all along the bordor. at the side of

next to a road or path:

Richard left his motorcycle at the side of the road and started to walk. side by side

if two people are walking, sitting or lying side by side they are next to each other:

We walked along slowly side by side.

next door

next to another building, house, office etc or living in the house next to someone:

The hotel’s very noisy at night – there’s a night club right next door.

the house / office / shop etc next door (next to the place you are in or the place you have mentioned)

The house next door has been sold.

+ to There’s a bookstore next door to the bank. / MrCottrel lived next door to my parents.

next door neighbour (neighbor) – the person who lives next door

10. OPPOSITE opposite (preposition / adverb)

in front of a building, thing or person, and on the other side of a street or table from them:

His wife was sitting opposite me at dinner last night. just / right / immediately opposite (exactly opposite)

There’s a bus stop right opposite my house. / The Harrisons live just opposite.

But: don’t confuse opposite and in front of. If there is a bus stop in front of your house, it is on the same side of the street. If there is a bus stop opposite your house, it is on the other side of the street.

32

opposite (adjective only before noun)

opposite side / end / corner (the side etc facing you across an area)

I saw him walk past on the opposite side of the street. facing something / somebody

a person, seat or building that is facing something or somebody is opposite them and has its front towards them:

an apartment facing the harbor / They sat facing each other across the table. across (preposition)

on the opposite side of a road, river, border etc from where you are:

My friend lives across the road.

just across (on the opposite side and close to where you are)

Tijuana is just across the border in Mexico.

11. IN FRONT OF in front

further forward than someone or something else:

The car in front started to slow down. / She walked in front carrying the baby. in front of somebody / something

if something is in front of you, you are facing it; if something is in front of a building, object etc, the front of the building or object is facing it:

There was a tall man standing in front of me, so I couldn’t see what was happening. / She parked her car right in front of the main entrance.

But: don’t confuse in front of (directly next to the front of a building) and opposite (on the other side of the street).

ahead (adverb)

if something or someone is ahead of you, they are in front of you, and you are moving in the same direction or towards them:

He knows the way, so let him go on ahead and we’ll follow. far ahead

I shouted at him to stop, but he was too far ahead and didn’t hear me. + of We could still see their car ahead of us.

the road / way / path ahead ( the road etc in front of you that you are travelling along)

The road ahead was closed because of an accident.

33

14. AROUND

around / round (preposition)

in a circle or moving in a circle, with something or someone in the middle:

The whole family was sitting around the dinner table talking. / A small crowd had gathered round us. / He had a bandage round his wrist. / People used to believe that the sun went around the earth.

15. ACROSS / THROUGH across (preposition / adverb)

from one side of something to the other:

The children ran across the road. / sailing across the Atlantic / We gazed across the valley. / The traffic was heavy so it took a long time to get across.

+ to He walked across to the window.

over (preposition)

going from one side of something to the other, especially by flying, jumping, climbing or using a bridge:

A cat jumped over the fence. / the road over the mountains / one of the bridges over the Rhine.

through (preposition / adverb)

from one side or end of something to the other – use this about going through a town, a forest or a crowd, or looking through a hole, window etc:

I pushed my way through the crowd. / walking through the forest / We drove through Baltimore on our way to Washington. / I could see her through the window. / The trip through the tunnel takes about 40 minutes. / We found a gap in the fence and climbed through.

16. ALONG

along / down / up (preposition)

moving or looking from a place on a road, passage, line etc towards the end of it: walking along the road / I could hear him coming along the corridor. / I looked down the line of prisoners, but I didn’t recognize any of them. / Go up Main Street and turn right.

17. ABOVE above (preposition)

in a higher position than something:

There was a light directly above the table. / Mexico City is 2400 metres above sea level.

35

the floor / room / apartment above (above where you are)

We could hear noises in the room above. from above

Looking down from above, we could see the whole island spread out like a map. over (preposition / adverb)

directly above something or moving in the air above it:

Black clouds hung over the valley. / As the planes flew over, Selim could see the Russian markings on their wings. / Riot police fired over the heads of the demonstrators.

overhead (adverb)

in the sky directly above your head:

Suddenly, they heard the rumble of thunder overhead. / The ship moved away slowly with seagulls circling overhead.

upstairs (adverb)

on a higher floor of a building, above where you are:

The bathroom is upstairs. / We got a note from the woman who lives upstairs. upstairs (adjective only before noun)

The burglars got in through an upstairs window. up (adverb)

up in / up on / up there etcin a higher position than where you are:

The cat’s up on the roof again. / Is it safe up there?

18. UNDER / BELOW

But: if something is not directly under something else, use below: the path below my bedroom window; if something is hidden or covered by something else, or is moving directly under it, use under: The cat was hiding under the table.

under (preposition)

Wendy hid the box under her bed. / the first of the boats was already passing under the Golden Gate Bridge. / The ruins of the ancient city now lie under the sea.

you can also use this to say that something is covered by clothes, skin, paint etc:

I’m wearing a sweater under my coat.

below (adverb / preposition)

in a lower position than something:

We were standing on top of the mountain, looking down into the valley below. / He has a nasty scar just below the left eye.

36

the floor / room / apartment below (below where you are)

I work on the fourth floor and Gerry’s office is on the floor below. underneath (preposition)

directly under another object:

I found your keys on the sofa, underneath a cushion. / He got out of the car and looked underneath.

you can also use this to say that something is covered by clothes, skin, paint etc: a disease caused by a tiny insect that lays its eggs just underneath the skin

underground (adverb)

under the ground:

The explosives are stored underground in concrete bunkers. underground (adjective only before noun)

An underground passage leads from the castle to a secret cave. downstairs (adverb)

on a lower floor of a building, below where you are:

I can hear someone moving around downstairs. / the people who live downstairs downstairs (adjective only before noun)

I think it’s in the downstairs cupboard.

19. UP

up (adverb / preposition)

moving, pointing or looking up:

Caroline looked up and laughed. up a hill / ladder / tree / wall etc

He had climbed up a tree to get a better view.

+ onto / into at etc

Don’t let the cat jump up onto the table. straight up (directly towards the sky)

upwards / upward (adverb)

towards a higher position, especially towards the sky:

Most plants grow upwards, towards the light. / With a loud bang, the rocket shot upward into the night sky.

upward (adjective only before noun)

He signaled with an upward movement of the arm. uphill (adverb)

going up a slope or hill:

It’s hard work biking uphill. / The path continues uphill for another mile.

37

upstairs (adverb)

going up the stairs to a higher level of a building:

They carried her upstairs to the bedroom. upstairs (adjective only before noun)

There was a slight movement at one of the upstairs windows.

20. DOWN

But: if you want to say that something comes onto the ground or a lower place, use down: Come down from that tree!

if you want to say that something is pointing towards a lower place, use the adverb downwards or the preposition down: The path continued downwards / the path continued down the hill.

down (adverb / preposition)

moving, pointing, or looking down:

I told you not to climb on the table. Get down! / Tears ran down his face.

+ into / at / off / from etc

Dr Morel glanced down at the notepad on his desk. / The accident happened as we were coming down off the mountain.

down a hill / hole / slope etc

We went down some steps into a cellar.

downwards / downward (adverb) towards a lower position or place:

a path winding downwards through the woods to the valley below / He was gazing downward into the pit.

downward (adjective only before noun) the downward pull of gravity

downhill (adverb)

going down a slope or hill:

We set off downhill, towards the lake. / From here it’s downhill all the way to the beach.

downstairs (adverb)

going down the stairs to a lower floor of a building:

She said goodnight to the children and went downstairs. / After drinking half a bottle of whisky, he had fallen downstairs.

21. FORWARD

forward / forwards (adverb) moving or looking towards a point in front of you:

She leaned forward to speak to the driver. / One of the guards stepped forward and raised his rifle. / Sit facing forwards with your legs stretched out.

38

ahead (adverb)

in front of you:

It was impossible to see ahead through the fog. straight ahead (directly ahead)

He was staring straight ahead toward the gates at the end of the road. straight on (British)

if you go straight on, you go directly forward, not to the left or right:

When you come to the crossroads, drive straight on.

22. BACKWARDS back (adverb)

moving or looking towards a point behind you:

He looked back over his shoulder. / I stepped back to let them pass. / Police pushed the crowd back, away from the palace gates.

backwards / backward (adverb)

moving back:

She fell backwards onto the bed. / Harry took a step backwards, and stood on someone’s toe.

23. TOP the top (noun)

the top part or surface of something:

When you get to the top, wait for me.

+ of There is a wonderful view from the top of the tower. at the top (on or near the top)

When I’m painting a wall, I always start at the top. / He was waiting for me at the top of the stairs. / Write your name at the top of the page.

top (adjective only before noun) top shelf / drawer / floor / layer etc

The books are on the top shelf. / Our apartment is on the top floor. upper (adjective only before noun)

upper part, / teeth / lip / deck etcthe part, teeth etc at the top – use this when there is one part or set at the top and one at the bottom:

Several of his upper teeth are missing. / As the ship came in, she could see Henry waving from the upper deck.

39

24. BOTTOM the bottom (noun)

the lowest part of something

+ of There’s a crack along the bottom of the wall. / The ship sank to the bottom of the ocean.

at the bottom

Paul was waiting for her at the bottom of the stairs. / The answers are at the bottom of Page 51.

in the bottom (in the bottom of a container, hole etc)

There’s a little paint left in the bottom of the can.

at the foot of something (in written descriptions)

close to the bottom of a mountain, a ladder, a tree, or some stairs:

a hotel situated at the foot of the Lamvern Hills / Jean stopped at the foot of the stairs and looked back at him.

bottom (adjective only before noun)

bottom shelf / drawer / layer etcthe shelf, drawer etc at the bottom:

She searched through the bottom drawer of her desk. lower (adjective only before noun)

lower part / lip / deck etcthe part, lip etc at the bottom – use this when there is one at the top and one at the bottom:

We drove onto the lower deck of the ferry.

25. FRONT the front (noun)

the part of something that is furthest forward, or the part of a moving object that is facing in the direction that it is moving

+ of The front of the house was painted yellow. / You’ve spilt soup all down the front of your dress. / The hijacker walked down to the front of the plane.

at the front (at the front of a room, area or space)

Come and sit at the front – you’ll be able to see.

on the front (on the front surface or cover of something)

Her picture was on the front of “Time” magazine. front (adjective only before noun)

use this about something that is at the front when there are other things of the same kind behind it

front row / seats / page / teeth / legs etc

I don’t want to sit in the front row. / a story that was on the front page of every newspaper

40